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NBL Concludes Annual Awards, Bryce Cotton Claims Sixth MVP Amid Voting System Discussion

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NBL Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night: Cotton Wins Sixth MVP Amidst Voting Controversy

The National Basketball League (NBL) held its annual Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night on Monday, February 23, recognizing top performers and contributors across various categories. Bryce Cotton of the Adelaide 36ers secured the Andrew Gaze Trophy for Most Valuable Player for the sixth time, making it his third consecutive win. Brian Goorjian of the Sydney Kings was named Coach of the Year. However, the event concluded with controversy as Sydney Kings guard Kendric Davis, who finished second in the MVP voting, publicly questioned the transparency and integrity of the league's voting process.

Awards Ceremony Overview and Voting Process

The Andrew Gaze MVP Awards Night was broadcast live on Disney+, Kayo, and the NBL's YouTube Channel, ensuring wide accessibility for fans.

The nomination process began with an expert panel including NBL legend Andrew Gaze, Olgun Uluc, Derek Rucker, Michael Cedar, and John Casey. Following nominations, a comprehensive voting system was employed: coaches and captains from the 10 NBL teams cast their votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, with a restriction against voting for players from their own clubs.

These votes were equally weighted between the combined head coaches, combined captains, and the expert panel, aiming for a balanced and representative outcome.

Bryce Cotton Claims Sixth MVP in a Nail-Biter

Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers) earned his sixth NBL MVP award, making it his third consecutive Andrew Gaze Trophy. He now stands just one MVP award behind Andrew Gaze's record.

Cotton secured the award with 96 votes, narrowly edging out Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings), who received 94 votes. This two-vote margin highlighted the intensely competitive season. Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats) and Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) tied for third place with 59 votes each.

Cotton's impressive season saw him average 25.7 points, 7.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 44 percent from the field.

Davis, also a point guard, posted strong numbers with an average of 24.4 points, 6.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, with a field goal efficiency of 48 percent. Both players led their respective teams to top-two positions on the NBL ladder. Cotton recently became an Australian citizen, making him eligible for potential selection for the Boomers at future international competitions.

Goorjian Named Coach of the Year; Other Principal Awards Recognized

Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings) received his seventh Lindsay Gaze Coach of the Year award, 34 years after his first, for expertly leading the Sydney Kings to the top of the NBL ladder.

Other Principal Awards:

  • Most Improved Player: Flynn Cameron (Adelaide 36ers)
  • Step One Next Generation Award: Sam Mennenga (New Zealand Breakers)
  • Sixth Man of the Year: Angus Glover (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
  • Damian Martin Defensive Player of the Year: John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
  • Executive of the Year: Nic Barbato (Adelaide 36ers)
  • Referee of the Year: Michael Aylen
  • Champion Fans’ MVP: Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)

All-NBL Teams Announced

First Team:

  • Bryce Cotton (Adelaide 36ers)
  • Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings)
  • Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix)
  • Kristian Doolittle (Perth Wildcats)
  • John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

Second Team:

  • Jack McVeigh (Cairns Taipans)
  • Parker Jackson-Cartwright (New Zealand Breakers)
  • Xavier Cooks (Sydney Kings)
  • Bryce Hamilton (Tasmania JackJumpers)
  • Zylan Cheatham (Adelaide 36ers)

Notably, three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee was not included in either All-NBL team.

Kendric Davis Alleges "Popularity Contest," Questions MVP Voting System

Following the awards, Kendric Davis publicly questioned the NBL's MVP voting system after placing second to Bryce Cotton by a mere two votes.

On an Instagram Live video and later at the Finals Launch, Davis expressed a desire for transparency regarding individual voter selections, suggesting that the current system could be influenced by personal relationships rather than solely performance.

He stated his belief that if player identities were removed and NBA personnel voted based purely on statistics, he would be selected as MVP.

Davis also indicated a belief that the league did not want him to win the award, referencing past NBL posts that he said portrayed him as a "bad teammate." He described Cotton's win as a "popularity contest" and the process as "political."

When asked about Davis's comments, Bryce Cotton stated he was not fully aware of what had been said. The NBL confirmed on Tuesday that it regularly reviews its processes but currently has no plans to alter the MVP voting system.

Davis has since indicated his focus has shifted, stating his objective is to "just win something that they can't vote on," referring to a Championship.

Other Recognitions

Additional awards recognized during the event included the Gametime by Kmart Award, Tangerine Dunk of the Year, and Three Pointer of the Year presented by Mitsubishi Motors Australia.